|
Cowen School Monument to
Early Pioneer Monument to James Pinkney Cowen, pioneer West Texas merchant and cotton buyer, stands in Sweetwater today as the J.P. Cowen Elementary School. Lap robes and buggy whips were still popular when the late J.P. Cowen moved his family to Sweetwater from Arkansas in 1900 to establish himself as a grocery merchant and later to expand to dry goods, clothing and shoe business. Born in Alabama, Cowen lived in that state until he reached young manhood. In Coldwater, MS, 25 years later, he was married to Miss Mary Virginia Windle and the couple moved to Perryville, Ark., whre they resided for a number of years. Their children included Mrs. John Cochran, Miss Maggie Cowen, Mrs. Carl Boatright and Mrs. Paul Middleton. Their move to Texas in 1900 was in view of a wider business area though his first venture in Kent County was in the farming and stock raising business. Son afterward he entered the mercantile business in Sweetwater, choosing the grocery business as a vocation. His first location was in the Freeze building located on the west side of the square near where the shoe concern he extablished still operates. Later, when adding a stock of drygoods, his store was moved to the Mary Trammell building, also on the west side of the square. The Cowen mercantile business in Nolan County continued over a span of years, during which time Cowen bought cotton on a large scale. His stock was combined with the Southern Mercantile Co., and incorporated concern in 1914, and later selling his interest he opened the present Cowen Shoe Store. During his years in this area Cowen acquired considerable farm property, residential property and business buildings in the downtown area. He was closely connected with the Sweetwater schools as a trustee and school board official for many years. Mr. Cowen sold his shoe store in 1922 and his daughter Maggie opened her own store in 1923. He died in Jan., 1926 and Mrs. Cowen died in 1945. Miss Cowen operated the store until her death in 1967. Coming into the shoe business with her in 1947 was her nephew Jake Boatright and joining him as a partner was his son, Kent, who joined the firm in 1974. |
Fife
Standard Parts Company has been in business in Sweetwater for 37
years. In 1942
Fife was called into the service
of World War II, and.it was then that he liquidated his business. In
1946. he was discharged from the Army Ordinance as
a Major.. He returned
to Sweetwaterand reopened Fife
Standard Parts with hisdaughter
and
son-in-law, James G. Tucker as co-partners. "Fife Standard Parts Company furnishes its customers friendly service and first quality quaranteed automotive parts, accessories, custom formula car and appliance paints and car body repair products." |
|
B&PW Begins In 1926
The Sweetwater Business and
Professional women's Club was organized on March 16, 1926 and
since that time has been outstanding in various civic and welfare
enterprises.First meeting place was the Macie Hotel which at that time was the Wright Hotel. When the club was organized there were 35 charter members, and the late Mrs. R.C. Ledford was godmother from the time of the founding of the club until they moved from the city. The Sweetwater group was formed when 10 members of the Abilene Club came here to assist in organization. Miss Mamie Park, at that time Home Demonstration Agent here was the first president and Miss Stella Watson was the first secretary. Motto of the club was, and is still, "Do Something For Sweetwater." Among the long list of contributions toward civic enterprise the club sponsored one of the largest parades and pageants ever staged at a Midwestern Livestock show and Exposition, assisted in the turberculosis seal drive, cancer drive, heart fund drive, given scholarships to Sweetwater girls to further their education and was the laeading organization to build a free library to serve all of Nolan County. |
|
Livestock Auction The Sweetwater Livestock Auction, Incorporated opened in the early 1940's and is still located on W. Broadway. They hold livestock sales each Wednesday. The family owned business is owned by Cecil Sellers, Manager and Pinky Sellers, Charley Sellers, and Sue Sellers. They employee plus 50-60 employees on sale day. USG Grows For 75 Years
The United States Gypsum Company has been growing with America for the past 75 years. A vision that led to the founding of U.S.G. resulted in a business that provided the size and capabilities to produce many significant developments. The fragmented industry existing prior to the turn of the century could never have supported the research and development necessary to provide the dramatic changes in building products and technology that have occurred.......... Sweetwater Electric The known history of the electric business in Sweetwater dates back to 1907, when the Western Light and Power Company operated a small steam plant and distribution system. L.L. Stephenson, who owned an electric company in Big Spring is credited with being active in the organization and ownership of the electric properties in Sweetwater. Western Light and Power was foreclosed in 1909, and, as was typical in the early days of the industry, changed hands again after a short while. The new owners purchased the electric properties of another concern, the Sweetwater Light, Ice, & Water Company, and in 1912 incorporated the Sweetwater Light and Power Company. Only five months later, the assets of Sweetwater Light and Power were acquired by a new company, the West Texas Electric Company, which was formed to serve both Sweetwater and Big Spring, the two largest communities in the area at that time. Growth of the West Texas Electric Company from 1913 to 1926 is reflected in the fact that the number of towns served increased from two-Sweetwater and Big Spring- to a total of 11. By 1926, the company was serving 5,972 customers, as compared with 1,081 in 1913. Plant capacity was up for 850 Kilowatts to 2,278 kilowatts for the same period. It was not until after the properties in towns along the Texas & Pacific Railroad between Sweetwater and Big Spring, and later in Lamesa and Snyder, were acquired that interconnecting transmission lines could be built. This was done in the mid 1920's. In December, 1926, a group of power and light companies, including West Texas Electric, grouped together to form the first Texas Electric Service Company. Three years later in 1929, the present Texas Electric Service Company was incorporated, consolidating the first TESCO with the Fort Worth Power and Light Company. The new company was headed by A.J. Duncan, and a Sweetwater man, R.K. McAdams served on the original board of directors. |
| Business
Center
217 Oak - Free Delivery |
Hillcrest
Grocery 1414 Hailey |
The Reeves Co. |
Gee Transfer & Storage 1201 E Broadway |
State Farm Insurance 808 E. Broadway |
| Walls Industries 404 W. 4th |
Harris Rexall Drug 201 Oak |
| BACK | HOME |
